Ed.D. Programs in Ohio

Online Ed.D. Programs in Ohio

Online Ed.D. programs are available at both public and private universities in Ohio. Doctorate in education programs at Ohio public universities tend to be 100% online. Programs from private universities in Ohio may feature a campus visit or two. The following universities offer online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in Ohio:

1. Franklin University (CAEP-accredited)
2. Kent State University (CAEP-accredited)
3. University of Cincinnati (CAEP-accredited)
4. University of Dayton (CAEP-accredited)
5. University of Findlay (CAEP-accredited)
6. Youngstown State University (CAEP-accredited)

Public Ohio Universities

Kent State University’s 100% Online Ed.D. in Interprofessional Leadership is a versatile doctorate that features six concentration areas, including Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Technology, and Leadership in Educational Contexts. You can select a capstone project or individual investigation as an elective, but you’ll also be expected to complete a dissertation as your final requirement. Take 1-2 courses per semester and you’ll be finished in 3 years. Kent State is a CPED member.

Youngstown State University’s affordable 100% Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is also customizable—you can choose from four diverse concentrations, including a track in Ohio Superintendent Licensure. The licensure curriculum is aligned with state and national standards (ELCC, NELP, OPS, and OSS). And it includes a mandatory clinical experience. With a little elbow grease, you can finish coursework and the traditional 5-chapter dissertation for YSU’s Ed.D. in 32 months.

The University of Cincinnati’s 100% Online Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership in K-12 Education or Higher Education follows a typical plan of study for an educational leadership doctorate, but pulls on the expertise of UC faculty in urban issues. It’s structured on a 3-year schedule and open to candidates with a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA on their previous graduate degree. Like all the Ohio public universities offering online Ed.D. programs, this doctorate finishes with a dissertation.

Private Ohio Universities

Franklin University’s 100% Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership is available in three focus areas: including Organizational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and PK-12 Educational Leadership. Franklin is a regionally accredited, non-profit school and programs are built to be flexible for working professionals. For example, the three-year Ed.D. has multiple start dates. Credit transfers are available. And you can choose to complete a dissertation or a dissertation in practice.

You can compare Franklin with the University of Findlay’s Online Doctor of Education for PreK-20 educational leaders. It includes one campus component—a 3-day Summer Institute—and it takes around three years to finish. As part of the program, you’ll be required to tackle 15 hours of a Superintendent, Educational Leadership or Student Support Services strand. Current Ohio Superintendent’s License holders can apply their experience to 25% of the degree requirements. UF is a CPED member.

If you prefer the personal touch, the University of Dayton’s Online Doctor of Education in Leadership for Organizations might suit. It’s a 3-year program from a Roman Catholic research university that puts a strong emphasis on service-based leadership and real-world issues (i.e. a dissertation in practice). The vast majority of coursework is online, but you will be expected to attend two in-person immersions in Dayton. UD is a CPED member.

Out-of-State Alternative: Concordia University Chicago

In the OAESA + Concordia University Chicago partnership program, you’ll find online graduate programs that are delivered by OAESA with Concordia University Chicago in partnership with the K-12 Teachers Alliance. These programs prepare graduates for Ohio superintendent licensure, principal licensure, and the teacher leader endorsement. They have been approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and are recognized as “in-state” programs by the Ohio Department of Education. For the Online Ed.D., there’s both a Non-Licensure and a Superintendent Licensure pathway.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has a listing of online Ed.D. degrees in all fifty states, as well as background on accreditations.

Doctoral Education Funding in Ohio

Use the section to discover links to institutional aid for doctoral programs at Ohio universities. Many of the schools in our listings are large ones within the University of Ohio system, so they often have healthy endowments. The Office of Financial Aid and/or the Graduate College will also be able to assist with external aid options (e.g. federal & private loans, tuition reimbursement, etc.).

Bowling Green State University

The College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) has a section on applying for CEHD Scholarships. You’ll also find all of these awards listed in the searchable Scholarship Database (e.g. Dr. Neil Pohlmann Scholarship for graduate students in the School of Educational Foundations, Leadership & Policy Studies).

The other important site is the Graduate College, which has a large section on Graduate Funding. Ed.D. students are eligible to apply for certain awards & fellowships. According to BGSU, competitive graduate assistantships covering tuition and/or stipends are also available.

Franklin University

Under the Tuition & Financial Aid section, you’ll find a list of Franklin Scholarships. Doctoral students are eligible to apply for a number of awards (e.g. Graduate Student Scholarship). The university has also set up a variety of payment plans.

Kent State University

Students in Kent State’s Ed.D. program in Interprofessional Leadership are eligible for two scholarship programs. The Bowman Fellowship provides tuition funding for coursework. The Wilson Scholarship offers financial assistance to students as they complete their dissertation.

Miami University-Oxford

Miami’s One Stop has a comprehensive section for Graduate Students, with info on assistantships, financial aid, external loans, and scholarships & grants.

Ohio State University

The College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) has a useful section for prospective Graduate Students, with info on EHE Scholarships, and Graduate Associateships (i.e. assistantships). Doctoral students are welcome to apply for associate positions; teaching associates are eligible for the Graduate Associate Teaching Award.

You should also take a look at the Graduate School’s Funding section, which has details on Fellowships and Grants (e.g. Alumni Grants for Graduate Research and Scholarship). Plus there’s a helpful section on Financial Education, with free financial advice opportunities (e.g. one-on-one counseling).

Ohio University

The Patton College of Education has a section on Graduate Assistantships, but the Ed.D. has a weekend format, so you may not find those positions relevant. Instead, you may wish to look at the Graduate College’s section on Funding. Modest travel & original work grants, as well as emergency micro-grants, are available. OU also offers Student Enhancement Awards that provide up to $6,000 for a student & mentor to attend a professional meeting to present research results.

University of Cincinnati

The College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) has a section on CECH Scholarships & Funding. UC’s Graduate School section on Funding Opportunities will also be helpful. Check out the section on Graduate Assistantships.

University of Findlay

UF’s section on Financial Aid and Scholarships for Graduate Students has info on assistantships and employer reimbursement.

University of Toledo

The College of Graduate Studies’s section on Tuition, Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards covers aid for prospective and current students. Toledo has a number of awards, scholarships, and fellowships that are open to doctoral candidates.

Wright State University

The College of Education and Human Services has info on Graduate Assistantships—all of WSU’s graduate departments have a limited number of assistantship positions available each year.

The Graduate School also has a section on Graduate Scholarships & Fellowships. In particular, check out the Wright State University’s Wright-Patterson AFB (WPAFB) Scholarship and the Wright Fellows Program. Doctoral students are eligible to apply for both.

Youngstown State University

The College of Graduate Studies has sections on Assistantships and Fellowships and Graduate Scholarships. However, Ed.D. students are exempt from most of the general graduate awards.

On the other hand, if you use the YSU Scholarship Search, you will find opportunities for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, including the:

• Dr. Kim J. Rost Memorial Award
• Reene Ann Shue Alley Educational Research Support Fund for Doctoral Students
• Dr. Gunapala Edirisooriya Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Any award labelled “Foundation” will require a YSU Foundation Scholarship Application. Each scholarship entry has contact information for the scholarship coordinator.

Note: If a university name is missing from the list, we didn’t find specific examples of Ed.D. funding beyond private & federal loans and external aid.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Ohio

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

For a bird’s-eye view of the administrative landscape, consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It tracks employment & salary data for K-12 education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state.

• Like Pennsylvania, Ohio has high levels of employment for elementary & secondary school education administrators If you’re interested in a PreK-12 career in Ohio, we also recommend the ODE’s section on Data. This contains Report Card Resources and the Education Management Information System (EMIS), a statewide data collection system for Ohio’s primary and secondary education. View Ohio School Report Cards.
• Ohio also has a large number of postsecondary education administrators. Members of the University of Ohio system and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO) have a foot in almost every county. If you wish to dig deeper, the Ohio Department of Higher Education publishes Higher Education Data & Reports on key topics, including Faculty & Personnel data. In the category of Executive, Administrative & Managerial, Ohio State University is usually the clear winner for numbers of employees, with the University of Cincinnati in a distant second place.

Educational Leadership Salaries

You can view annual mean wages for all kinds of educational administrators by consulting the BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Ohio.

• Mean wages for Ohio K-12 education administrators are not stellar—the state often loses out in the salary stakes to Pennsylvania. Bear in mind that the Buckeye Institute allows you to view all public K-12 Salaries—including salaries for administrators such as principals and superintendents—by name, district, and/or position.
• Postsecondary education administrators in Ohio are in the lowest wage bracket in the country, well behind Michigan and Pennsylvania. You’ll find more comprehensive data in The Buckeye Institute’s database on Higher Ed Salaries.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Traditional job sites will always have openings for Ohio administrators and educational leaders (e.g. HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.). But we wanted to point you toward some state-specific resources.

• BASA’s list of K-12 Job Opportunities includes postings for superintendents, directors, principals, coordinators, COOs, CIOs, and more.
• OASBO’s section for the Job Seeker has openings for Ohio superintendents, treasurers, CFOs, COOs, and other school business officials.
• OASSA has a list of Job Openings for Ohio administrators, including high school or middle school principals, assistant principals, superintendents, and Central Office positions (e.g. director, supervisor, coordinator, etc.).
• The Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS) maintains a Job Board for educators.
• The Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) posts Career Opportunities in its member colleges.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Ohio

Educational Leadership Associations

• Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA): BASA is a non-profit organization that serves school superintendents and other administrators throughout the state of Ohio. It’s an affiliate of AASA.
• Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE): Ohio ACTE represents career & technical teachers, administrators, advisors, staff, and adult educators throughout Ohio.
• Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators (OAPSA): OAPSA is a state organization of school administrators currently charged with district-wide administrative responsibilities for Pupil Services (e.g. school psychology, school social work, pupil assessment, etc.). It’s an affiliate of NAPSA.
• Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO): OASBO is an association of Ohio school business officials that serves to empower members by providing advocacy, collaboration, and professional development. See the Awards & Scholarships section.
• Ohio Association of School Personnel Administrators (OASPA)/Ohio Association for Employment in Education (OAEE): OASPA/OAEE serves career services professionals from institutions with teacher preparation programs and personnel administrators from school districts throughout the state.
• Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA): OASSA’s mission is to provide high standards of middle & secondary school leadership through consultation and professional development, legislative influence, positive public relations, curricular initiatives, and more.
• Ohio Education Association (OEA): OEA is Ohio’s major teaching organization. It represents 121,000+ teachers, faculty members, and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities.
• Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA): OSBA exists to serve Ohio’s public school board members and the diverse districts they represent.

Note: Remember that national and state educator organizations often have funds and scholarships available for continuing education (e.g. Ed.D.). Search the website and ask about opportunities.

Educational Leadership Events in Ohio

Educational Leadership Conferences

• OAESA Professional Conference: OAESA’s annual event for PreK-8 administrators, instructional leaders, teachers, and curriculum directors occurs in June.
• OASBO Annual Workshop & Trade Show: OASBO’s flagship event for school business officials attracts more than half of OASBO members. It usually takes place over three days in late April.
• OASSA Conferences: OASSA organizes lots of events and professional development workshops, including a Fall Conference in October, an Aspiring Administrators Conference in January, and an Instructional Leadership Conference in June.
• OSBA Capital Conference & Trade Show: OSBA’s three-day event in November is aimed at board members and district administrative teams. It includes general sessions, 120+ breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.

Educational Leadership Training

• BASA Professional Development: BASA runs a large number of training programs for school leaders & superintendents, including conferences, the Ohio School Leadership Institute, New Superintendent Transition, Executive Coaching, and the Emerging Leaders Institute.
• Ohio ACTE Shoemaker CTE Institute: This year-long institute is open to anyone who wants to improve their leadership skills and learn more about career-technical and adult education.
• OAESA Professional Development: OAESA hosts a Beginning Administrators Academy, Leadership Institutes, Preparing to Lead Workshops, and more.
• OASBO Professional Development: OASBO offers all kinds of services to school business officials, including workshops & seminars for CEUs, mentoring, advice on licensure & credentialing, and more.
• OASSA/OAESA Beginning Administrators Mentorship (BAM) Program: BAM pairs seasoned administrators with first- or second-year assistant principals and principals; it also provides budding leaders with professional development.
• OSBA Professional Development: OSBA has developed workshops, webinars, seminars, individual training, and a Board Leadership Institute (BLI) for school board members.